Communism and Socialism for Dummies

Hello everyone! I created this thread to help other users understand Communism and Socialism more. There would be no hate or love for these economic and political ideologies. Just the hard facts that will surprise many others and help educate people wanting to know about these economic ideologies.
www.allaboutphilosophy.org...

"Communism - Marxism & The Communist Manifesto
Communism, which is also described as "Revolutionary Proletarian Socialism" or "Marxism," is both a political and economic philosophy. The abridgment of Communism is enclosed in two primary writings: (1) The Communist Manifesto, which was first published in 1848 by Karl Marx, and (2) Principles of Communism, by Friedrich Engels. At the request of the Communist League, an activist group they were members of, Marx and Engels together authored The Communist Manifesto. The main goal of The Communist Manifesto was to focus on class struggle and motivate the common people to riot. Even more so, it was designed to envision a model government, whose economics would destroy the upper class - freeing the lower class from tyranny. According to The Communist Manifesto, Communism has ten essential planks:

* Abolition of Private Property.
* Heavy Progressive Income Tax.
* Abolition of Rights of Inheritance.
* Confiscation of Property Rights.
* Central Bank.
* Government Ownership of Communication and Transportation.
* Government Ownership of Factories and Agriculture.
* Government Control of Labor.
* Corporate Farms and Regional Planning.
* Government Control of Education.

Fundamentally, The Communist Manifesto was a rebellion against the extreme poverty of the lower class."

That's from the above source. Which explains very simple the basic fundamentals of Communist politics. For more in depth information on the history of Communism and the influence of it's politics try this site.
www.encyclopedia.com...

Here's a video off youtube with content from the educational website Brainpop!
This video explains perfectly about the history of Communism. You have to register for a free account if you want to see the better video on the site.
www.brainpop.com...


Now I'm open to any questions about Communism, Socialism and the history of the politics. Just is a start in understanding the history.
ASK AWAY!!

Thank you RR, this is sorely needed here. I am always amazed at people misusing these terms and misunderstanding what is about.

I see more of "well I don't like this so it's...it's...it's...SOCIALISM!" (aside) that's bad right?

Thanks again for the thread *&Flag

* Heavy Progressive Income Tax.

* Central Bank.
* Government Ownership of Communication and Transportation.

* Government Control of Education.

We're on our way...Just posted this but I'll repost it.



[edit on 30-7-2010 by time91]

reply to post by damwel


"I am always amazed at people misusing these terms and misunderstanding what is about."

Ain't that the truth. The surest way to determine the value of one's opinion is how he/she uses terms like racist, socialism, fascism and communism. Unfortunately, we are a society run through the heart with ignorance, fear and stupidity. My personal favorites are the faux Christians, the lunatic "evangelicals" rampant in America. Never before have I seen such a collectively scared-of-everything-and-everyone-diffferent, frothingly mad (as in angry and irrational), ignorant lot of humanity. These are the very same people who burned "witches" at the stake in the 1600s and they pose our biggest threat.

[edit on 30-7-2010 by pajoly]

Originally posted by Romantic_Rebel
* Abolition of Private Property.
* Heavy Progressive Income Tax.

How is this not a contradiction?

reply to post by time91


I created this thread help people understand about Communism and Socialism. It's difficult trying to figure these beliefs out and try to get people understand.

reply to post by NewlyAwakened


Don't shoot the messenger. I do agree with you on how contradiction that is. Most likely it has to do with the civilian base being able to get more from the government.

reply to post by Romantic_Rebel


I understand. It is frustrating to see posts misidentifying what something is. Like when corporations merge with government and intel agencies and someone calls it communism. I'm just pointing out what a former KGB has to say about communism in practice, and its not pretty.

reply to post by time91


A lot what he says is true. I might respect the history of communism and have friends who are socialist. My beliefs are Laissez-faire for economics and Liberal politics and with progressive.

reply to post by Romantic_Rebel


Great topic. You are absolutely right about the level of ignorance out there. I am going to keep an eye on the replies here, because they are almost sure to get interesting. Your point will most likely be unwittingly proved very soon.

Part of the ignorance on the subject is understandable, at least for the younger generations. Many who were born after the Wall came down, would have no experience of any of this, aside from what they might have been told by their elders, or read about. Certainly, these terms have largely disappeared from the mainstream (at least in the West), they would be seldom seen in any contemporary news article.

Interestingly, as profoundly ignorant as the average person may be on the matter, there is a paradoxical "revival" that seems to be going on, if I am reading ATS threads right. Seems like there are those who will literally identify themselves as "communist", or praise the "idealism" of the system, etc. And if you should make a comment that contained the term "iron curtain", this same crowd draws a blank!

How important could this thread be? If the old saying about those ignorant of history, being "doomed" to repeat it is true, then I would say your thread is as important as could be. Do 100 million plus need to die in the 21st Century as well, before we learn our lesson about destructive delusional idealism?

The really insidious thing about these ideologies (that seem to be making such a come-back), is that the propaganda versions of them being promoted, turn out to be literally the very opposite of what the reality turns out to be. As your small vid pointed out, historically these systems end up concentrating power in the hands of very, very few. And yet, ask your average young "communist" today if that's what they want, or would ever want to fight for.

Are we not already convinced that power corrupts, and the more "absolute" that power becomes (as it's concentrated), the more corrupt it is likely to be?

But, as long as I'm throwing out old slogans, I would be negligent if I did not also repeat the old "Knowledge is Power". And this is what your thread may accomplish for a few fortunate people, who come across your info, and learn.

"Teach, your children well..."

JR

I think the best description of government has to be the Two Cow Method.

My two favorites from this list are

BUREAUCRACY:

You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. After that it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.

and

SURREALISM:

You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

(I'm a big fan of S. Dali so the Surrealist view makes me laugh)



[edit on 30-7-2010 by [davinci]]

Originally posted by Romantic_Rebel
Even more so, it was designed to envision a model government, whose economics would destroy the upper class - freeing the lower class from tyranny

I would like to know why people who are in communist nations (i.e. North Korea) are still in bondage to tyranny (their government)?

reply to post by Romantic_Rebel


This poster is what the marxists call a usefull idiot. Through years of demoralization and brain washing, the recruit "leftist idealogues" to join their ranks. These people are imune to facts. You can show them documents, photos, physical evidence of concentration camps, and none of it matters. Sadly, after stage 3 of a communist revolution, our current stage, these leftists are either executed or imprisoned along with the dissedents, as they are no longer useful. They become a problem to the regime because they are so disillusioned after seeing the reality of communism. Here's a clip from an ex-KGP officer regarding what is currently underway in the US and a related thread. It will explain her fate.www.youtube.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by astrogolf


So I'm an "Useful Idiot?" You seem to know everything on this Earth. Yet numerous other users have proved you wrong.

Originally posted by astrogolf
This poster is what the marxists call a usefull idiot.

The poster is just stating what the differences are. There should be no name
calling.

reply to post by pajoly

The surest way to determine the value of one's opinion is how he/she uses terms like racist, socialism, fascism and communism.

I couldn't agree with you more. Sometimes it doesn't take long. A person will say something seemingly intelligent, and then follow-up with something else that completely betrays their ignorance or bias.

And perhaps there isn't anything "wrong" with simple ignorance, after all, we can't all be experts on everything, but what bothers me sometimes is the person who will say something like this...

"Well, I don't know anythin' about comyounizm, but this is what I think!"

OK, perhaps a bit extreme, but I can't tell you how many times I have read comments similar to that on ATS. the person "humbly" admits they don't even have the remote desire to go check Wikipedia on the matter-at-hand, and yet they have some silly opinion to share nonetheless (that usually makes you want to vomit). And sadly, they're dead serious in thinking that they have somehow just made a contribution! Too often, my knee jerks, and I just want to say, "Shut up, and sit down!" (But I don't. Usually, I'm too polite.)

And again, I agree with your sentiments about the "christian" elements out there. Now there is a fine group! But, I wouldn't want to lump them all together, perhaps there are still a few who are able to think. I try to charitably imagine that I just haven't been lucky enough to know many like that, personally.

JR

reply to post by texastig


Thanks! I just can't stand people who act like they know everything about anything and post the same comments everywhere.

Originally posted by Romantic_Rebel
reply to post by texastig

 

Thanks! I just can't stand people who act like they know everything about anything and post the same comments everywhere.

The user should have taken to time to closely read what you said.

[edit on 7/30/2010 by texastig]

reply to post by NewlyAwakened


Because INCOME tax isn't the same as PROPERTY tax.

Seems strange but yes they can and will tax the wages that they themselves pay (as government controls labor)